Ellison re-signs for GBmoto in 2016

GBmoto Racing has announced James Ellison will remain with the team for the 2016 MCE British Superbike season.

Ellison, who grabbed the JG Speedfit Kawasaki team's first ever race victory in the MCE British Superbike championship at Donington Park earlier this season, has agreed to remain with the team for 2016 - marking his third consecutive campaign with GBmoto - as he looks to spearhead its effort for a maiden BSB title.

The Cumbrian rider says he's delighted to secure his BSB future and hopes it can act as a 'momentum boost' for the rest of the 2015 championship.

"I'm really, really excited to be remaining with Mark and the GBmoto team," Ellison said. "2016 will be our third year together and I know we have the package to challenge for the title - we have it this year, but unfortunately injury has put us on the back foot.

"Signing this early is a real momentum boost - I'm heading into the Showdown knowing my 2016 plans which is a massive weight off my shoulders. Usually you're still worrying about the next season and riding for your job, whereas the pressure is off for us and I can ride without stress and just focus on the job at hand."

The former MotoGP rider is currently third in the BSB standings heading into the Showdown, 31 points adrift of leader Josh Brookes. Ellison has been plagued by injury this year after breaking two ribs in a crash at Snetterton and then suffering the double misfortune of breaking his left wrist at Thruxton in August.

Despite his injuries Ellison still has a strong case for the 2015 BSB title with seven races remaining, beginning this weekend at Assen.

Ellison has also paid huge tribute to his team and is confident he has a strong enough package to fight for the BSB championship.

"The team is one of the best I've ever ridden for," Ellison said. "I've got a great group of guys around me and Mark is always striving to take another step forward and some of the plans for next season are very impressive.

"I know the team has some big plans for the next year and I'm looking forward to helping them develop things over the winter - but first, we've got a BSB title to try and win this year."

GBmoto team principal Mark Smith-Halvorsen has reiterated his belief that Ellison will be gunning for the BSB title in the final race of the season at Brands Hatch next month and is certain his rider has all the credentials of a champion.

"We're very pleased to have retained the services of James Ellison for 2016," Smith-Halvorsen said. "He is one of a very small group of riders, who I genuinely believe is capable of winning the BSB Championship and he showed this year that we have the package to do just that.

"Two injuries through no fault of his own has meant that we haven't been able to maintain the race winning pace we showed at the start of the year, but we know that James Ellison and the JG Speedfit Kawasaki are capable of running at the front right now and will be doing everything we can to ensure he can challenge for the title this season.

"It would be foolish to count us out at this stage, because I have a strong feeling, that we will be fighting for the title at Brands Hatch, come the last races of the year."

On Friday, Ellison's team-mate James Westmoreland dramatically split from GBmoto with immediate effect in between FP1 and FP2 at Assen but the decision is believed to been on 'amicable terms'.

The team is yet to announce whether it will bring in a replacement for Westmoreland for the remainder of the 2015 season but Smith-Halvorsen says plans will be confirmed in the coming weeks.

"We have some very exciting plans which we'll unveil in due course and I'm confident with James and the team around him, we will be winning races and title contenders once again."